Improvement in envelope-machines



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. D. 86 D. W.v SWIFT.

Envelope-Machine.

Patented Feb. 25,1879.

Flag. 3;

INVENTORS; EJ15109 D meals-r Smft 7 dam-9% 9 WITNESSES; wwzfiaw NfHiBS,FHOTO-LITNOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, D. C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. D. & D. W. SWIFT. Envelope-Machine.

No. 212,634. Patented Feb. 25,1879.

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(5M J1 fiflswfl I .D 74 72 eeZeT 7 EM WJ y N. PETERS. PHOTOUTNOGRAPHER,WASHINGTON D c.

UNITED STATES TEN T1 Qrrmon.

' HENRY D. SWIFT AND D. l/VHEELER SWIFT, OF VVQRCESTER, MASS,

ASSIGNORS TO G. HENRY XVHITOOMB & 00., OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN ENVELOPE-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 212,634, dated February25, 1879; application filed November 25, 1878.

To all whom it may concern.- Be it known that we, HENRY D. SWIFT and D.WHEELER SWIFT, of Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inEnvelope-Machines, which improvement is fully set forth in the followingspecification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an endelevation; Fig. 2, a side view of two projecting fingers; Fig. 5, asection of two projecting fingers on the line w 00, Fig. 5; Fig. 4, aside elevation of the drum, showing fingers, ratchet and pawl, 850.;Fig. 5, a horizontal section of the drum and flanges Fig. 6, a sideelevation of eccentriclink; Fig. 7, an end elevation of eccentric-link.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

This invention consists of certain improve ments in the folding anddrying apparatus of GDVBIOIlG-lllflOhlIlGS, which are described andrepresented as applied to the improved machines patented by usl1eretoforeto wit, on February 22,1876, and on December 26, 1876 thoughthe same may be advantageously applied to other forms of that class ofenvelopemachines in which gum is applied to the sealflaps of theenvelopes after they are placed in the machine.

In place of the drying-belt, as represented in our said former machines,or of a flexible belt or endless apron having pockets formed byradiating armsflve use a drum, D, which is caused to revolve with anintermittent motion upon a shaft, S. On the rim or lateral surfaceofthis drum are rigidly fitted projecting fingers F F, &e., at equaldistances from one another, forming a series of elongated spur-gearteeth extending over the whole lateral surface of the drum. Each fingeris of a length and width corresponding to the size of a folded envelope,and has two or more short projections, 00 w" 00 &c., so that an envelopemay be held in the space between two consecutive fingers and no pressurebe exerted on the recentlygummed parts while the gum on the seal-flap isdrying. The fingers F F, &c., are preferably fastened rigidly to thedrum, and are made of such a shape and are set at such a distance fromone another, substantially as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, that arecentlyfolded envelope will be held between two of them by reason ofthe pressure of its upper and lower sides against the fingers, thispress; ure being due to the elasticity of the paper. In this way movablefingers are avoided, such as were used on the belt in our formermachines, they having been found to be expensive and inconvenient.

Thedrum D, supported on its shaft S, is attached by hangers to the frameA of the machine at such height and distance from the frame that thecarryin g-frame O, in itsforward motion-e. 0., when moving toward thedrummay deliver a folded envelope which it brings from the foldingmechanism 13 into a space between the fingers F F, and in its returnmovement may take a dry envelope from the space above and carry it tothe plate T, by which it is transferred to'the curved receiver.

The device for giving a reciprocating motion to the carrying-frame G isomitted to avoid complicating the drawings. It is clearly shown in oursaid former patents.

An instant before the carryingframe has reached the limit of its forwardmotion the drum D is caused to move in the direction of the arrow, Fig.1, the distance of a space between two fingers, so that the envelopebrought from the folding mechanism B and placed between two of thefingers is carried one space to ward the under side of the drum, and adried envelope is at the same time brought into po sition to be pushedon the plate T by the return movement of the carrying-frame. Thisintermittent motion of the drum is secured by the cam Gr, Fig. 4, on thedriving-shaft acting through levers L L and the pawl P upon theratchet-wheel W.

For the successful operation of the drum in connection with thecarrying-frame it is neeessary that the fingers should be exactly inposition to receive the envelopes from the can rying-frame. lt istherefore desirable to ad just the relative position of the fingers andthe carrying-frame. This is accomplished by means of the eccentric-linkK. 1f the screw Q, Figs. 6 and 7, be loosened and the link movedslightly in either direction, the position of the pawl P with referenceto that of the cam G will be altered, and consequently the relativeposition of the drum and the carryingframe.

Covering the ends of the drum, and, if desired, with lips M M projectingslightly over the ends of the fingers, are the guard-flanges E E. Theseassist in retaining the envelopes in the spaces between the fingers,except at the opening 0, which is cut out to allow the carrying-frame 0access to the fingers. One of the flanges, E, is made thick enough tocontain a circular chamber, B, into which air is forced by an ordinaryblowing apparatus through the pipe U, and from which, through a seriesof holes, 0 e, &c., jets of air are directed across the envelopes, underthe sealflaps of the same, as they are successively brought opposite theholes by the drum in its revolution.

To prevent any motion of the drum, except when acted upon by the pawl, abrake, V, is used. It is fastened to the guard-flange E by screws '0 o'0 of which 21 0 while they fasten the arm V to the flange E, serve alsoas a fulcrum. The bearing-surface is upon the under side of the rim ofthe drum, and the degree of pressure is regulated by turning the screw oHaving thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent-1 1. A revolving drum having projecting fingersrigidly fixed on its rim, forming spaces, in which folded and gummedenvelopes are held while drying, in combination with anenvelope-machine, substantially as shown and described.

2. The fingers F F, &c., rigidly fixed on the lateral surface of adrum,made of such form and placed at such a distance from one another thatfolded and gummed envelopes will be held between them by the elasticityof the paper, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination of the revolving drum D, having fixed projectingfingers F F, 850., of the air-chamber R, with holes 0 e, &c., to directa blast across the envelopes from end to end, of the pawl P andratchet-Wheel W, operated by the cam G and levers L L, all forming adrying apparatus for envelope-ma chines, substantially as shown anddescribed.

4. The eccentric-link K, in combination with the levers L L, and thepawl P and ratchetwheel W, and the drum having fixed projecting fingersfor adjusting the relative position of the drum-fingers F F, &c., andthe carrying-frame O, substantially as shown and described.

5. The brake V, attached to a projection on the flange E by screws '0 vand regulated by the screw 0;, in combination with the drum D, havingfixed projecting fingers, substantially as shown and described.

HENRY D. SWIFT. D. WHEELER SWIFT.

Witnesses:

EBEN. W. HOXIE, EZRA P. WATERHOUSE.

